Carpet sweeper brush drive mechanism



March 12, 1940. F. w. PULLEN 2,193,182

CARPET SWEEPER BRUSH DRIVE MECHANISM Filed Oct. l2, 1936N f/ 01'10 7 5 m5 a@ 7 1o Fred l? Y Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARPET SWEEPER BRUSH DRIVE MEGHANISM l l `Fred W. runen, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to Bissell `Carpet Sweeper Company, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application October A12, 1936, Serial No. 105,266

7 Claims. (Cl. 15-41) support for the brush pivot in that connection.`

Objects relating to details of construction and operation will appear from the detailed descrip` tion to follow. The invention is dened in the claims. Structures embodyingmy invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

. Fig. 1 is an end view of `a carpet sweeper of` Fig. 3 is an interior perspective detail view of the' guard rail, spring supporting plates and equalizer levers of the structures illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 `is a fragmentary elevation view showing the adjustment and relation of the equalizing levers and the brush pivot when the same is in normal position. Y

Fig. 5 is a similar elevation view with `the brush pivot in its lowermost position, which position it assumes when the brush is sweeping hard carpet or bare floor.

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the inside of a guard bar and the supporting equalizing levers and the brush pivot of a modified structure.

The parts will be identiied by their numerals of reference, which are the same in all the views.

I is a carpet sweeper casing of the usual form. 2, 2 are the oor wheels at one end of the carpet sweeper. 2|, 2| are the connecting axle rods for the iloor wheels in the opposite ends of the case. (They are seenin Fig. 2.) 3 is the usual brush. 4 is the end guard bar embracing the mechanism at the end of the carpet sweeper casing. 5, 5 are the usual ball bearings for the hubs of the iloor wheelsprovided with projecting arms 5I for the connection of the spring. 6 is the spring carried by the spring plate 6| which is riveted or `otherwise secured to the end guard bar 4. The spring 6 is retained by the central loop 62 and engages lthe ends of the arms 5| in the usual way.

Il provide equalizing levefr supports 1 between the floor wheels and the brush.- 'Ihese are carried on iulcrum pins 8 on the end bars 4. At

theouter ends ofthe support levers 1 are suspending links 9 carried by pivots 9 and having `journal pins I0 for engagement with journal l bearings at the hub centers of wheels 2 at each side and are journaled in the floor wheels at each side. This permits the wheel to have eective lateral motion as illustrated in Fig. 1 for permitting the wheel to contact with and drive the hub of the brush. Each of these levers is pivoted centrally to the fulcrum pins 8. The brush is carried,- by the journal pin or pivot 32 which engages the end of the brush by insertion therein in the usual way.` The brush pivot is provided with a cross bar 33 to which the inner ends of the levers 'l are pivoted at opposite ends by pivots 34, `34, the arm 33 rocking on its axis whenever the brush is raised or lowered by the action of the casing on the floor wheels on the equalizing lever supports 1.

In Fig. 6 I have modified this by substituting apair of links 35, 35 connected to the brush, journal pin 32 at their upper ends and by pivots 36, 35 at their lower ends to the inner ends of levers 'i so that the brush is raised and lowered by the action of the two links 35 when the carpet sweeper is operated in the usual way and selfadjusts itself to the `proper sweeping height.

From this description it will be seen that on the manipulation of the carpet sweeper, the brush will be driven because of the yielding connection between the licor wheels `and the brush hub in the usual way and as the handle on the carpet `sweeper is manipulated the brush will adjust itself to the floor level whether that be a carpet or rug with `a long pile or a hard surfaced carpet or Veven a hard oor. The brush automatically takes the correct position to properly sweep the surface over which the carpet sweeper is passed. This is done automatically by the action of the carpet sweeper when it is manipulated. The

action of the floor wheels while free is equalized. l

When pressure is applied downwardly upon the sweeper it forces the case' downward and the inner ends of the lever l are thus carried down and with them the brush pivot which is maintained in its central position at the end of the carpet sweeper by the` cross bar 33.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureI by Letters Patent is: v l

l. In a carpet sweeper, the combination of a case, an end member attached to and extending along the endV of the case provided with fulcrums each side of and spaced from its center in opposite directions, a carpetsweeper brush within the case and having a hub at its end, floor wheels disposed at each side of said driving hub and disposed to have yielding contact with said'hub, spring connecting means extending from said floor wheels and having means connecting to said case to maintain said iioor wheels in yielding contact with said brush hub and to support the case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal for the end or" the brush, an equalizing lever pivoted between its ends on each fulorum of said end member, each lever having at its inner end an upwardly extending link having its free end pivoted to said brush journal, said equalizing levers having their outer ends pivoted to the iioor wheels, said fulcrums and the ilcor wheel connections being such that upon pivoting of said equalizing levers the distance between the axis of the iioor wheels and the axis of the hub is not altered, whereby said spring connecting `levers equalize the action of said iioor wheels,

whereby pressure on the case creates between said oor wheels and said brush hub relative movement in opposite vertical directions.

2. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combinationof a case, an end member xedly attached to and extending along the end of said case, provided with ulcrums each side of its center and spaced in opposite directions therefrom, a rotatable carpet sweeper brush within said case and having a driving hub at its end, floor wheels at each side of said hub disposed to have yielding driving contact with the hub of said brush, spring connecting means extending from said iioor wheels and having means connected to said case to maintain said floor wheels in yielding Contact with the brush hub and to support said case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal pin for the end of said brush, a vertical cross arm connected to said brush journal pin, equalizing levers pivoted between their ends on the `iulcrums of said end member, one having its inner end pivoted to the upper land one having its inner end pivoted to the lower end of said cross arm, and link supports pivoted to the outer ends of said equalizing levers bearing journal pins cooperating with the said floor wheels whereby the iioor wheels and brush move in opposite vertical directions relative to the case when pressure applied to the case while maintaining driving contact between said wheels and said brush hub.

3. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combination of a case, an end member xedly attached to and extending along the end of said case, provided with fulcrums each side of its center spaced therefrom in opposite directions, a rotatable oarpet sweeper brush within said case and having a driving hub at its end, iioor wheels at each side of said hub disposed to have yielding driving contact with theI hub of said brush, spring connecting means extending from said floor wheels and having means connected to said case to maintain said iiocr wheels in yielding contact with the brush hub and to support said case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal pin for the end of said brush, a vertical cross arm on said brush journal pin, equalizing levers pivoted Y betweentheir ends on the fulcrurns of said end member one having its inner end pivoted to the upper and one having its inner end pivoted to the lower end of said cross arm, and pivotal connections from the outer end of each equalizing lever to one of said floor wheels, said fulcrums and said last named connections being such that upon pivoting of said equalizing levers the distance between the axis of the oor wheels and the axis of the hub is not altered, whereby the door wheels and brush move in opposite directions relative to the case when pressure is applied to the case and the spring connecting means maintain the floor wheels in yielding contact with the brush hub.

4. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combination of a case, a rotatable brush in said case and having a hub, a supporting journal for the end of said brush, a vertical cross arm secured to said journal, equalizing levers fulcrume'd between their ends on the end of the carpet sweeper structure at points spaced horizontally along the end of the carpet sweeper from each side of said brush, the lever on one side having its inner end pivotally connected to the top of said arm, the lever on the other side having its inner end pivotally connected to the bottom of said arm, whereby the journal and ,tneibrush will havesubstantially vertical movement when the levers are pivoted about their fulcrums, yielding `floor wheels contacting Vsaid brush hub, spring means extending from the floor wheels tothe carpet sweeper structure to support it from said iioor wheels and to hold said floor wheels yieldingly in engagement with said hub, connections from the said oor wheels to the outer ends of said equalizing levers,

said fulcrums and connections to the wheel being such that upon pivoting of said equalizing levers the distance between the axis of the floor wheels and the axis of the huby is not altered, whereby said spring means holds said wheels in contact with said hub and said wheels are equalize'd and vertical movement of the brush and wheels in opposite vertical directions are obtained when pressure is applied to the top of the carpet sweeper.

5. In a carpet sweeper structure, the combination of a case, an end member xedlyY attachedto and extending along thev endof the case provided with fulcrurns each side of and spaced from its center in opposite directions, a rotatable carpet sweeper brush within said case and having a driving hub at its end, iloor wheels disposed at each side of said driving hub and disposed to have yielding driving contactwith the hub, spring connecting means extending from said iioor wheels and having means connected to said case to maintain said lcor wheels in yielding contact with said Ybrush hub and to support the case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal pin for the end of thefbrush, an equalizing lever pivoted intermediate its ends oneachfulcrumiof said end bar, link means joining the inner end of each equalizing lever to said journal pin, and link means joining the` outer ends of said equalizing levers tosaid iioor wheels'whereby the floor wheels and vbrush move in opposite vertical directionsV relative to the case when pressure is applied to the top of the case while maintaining driving contact between said wheels and the brush hub.

6. In a carpet sweeperY structure, the combination of a case, an end member iixedly attached to and extendingalong the end o1" the kcase provided with iulcrurnseachside of and spaced from its center in opposite directions, a rotatable carpet sweeper brush withinsaid case and having a driving-hub at its end, floor wheels disposed at each side of said driving hub and disposedto have yielding driving Contact with the hub, spring connecting means extending from said oor wheels and 'having' lmeans 'connectedl to -said case to maintain said oor wheels in yielding contact with said brush hub andto support the case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal pin for the end of the brush, an equalizing lever pivoted intermediate its ends on each fulcrum of said end bar, link means joining the inner end of each equalizing lever to said journal pin, and means joining the outer ends of said equalizing levers to said iioor wheels, whereby the iioor wheels and brush move in opposite vertical directions relative to the case when pressure is applied to the top of the case while maintaining driving contact between said wheels andthe brush hub.

g '7. In a carpet sweeper structure', the combination of a case; an end member iixedly attached to and extending along the end of the case provided with fulcrums each side of andspaced from its center in opposite directions, a rotatable carpet sweeper brush within said case and having a driving hub at its end, floor wheels disposed at each side of said driving hub and disposed to have yielding driving contact with the hub, spring connecting means extending from said floor wheels and having means connected to said case to maintain said floor wheels in yielding contact With said brush hub and to support the case yieldingly in elevated position, a supporting journal pin for the end of the brush, an equalizing lever pivoted intermediate its ends on each fulcrum of said end bar, means joining the inner end of each equalizing lever to said brush pivot, and link means joining the outer ends of said equalizing levers to said iioor wheels, whereby the floor wheels and brush move in opposite vertical directions relative to the case when pressure is applied to the top of the case While maintaining driving contact between said `Wheels and the brush hub. l

FRED W. PULLEN. 

